Window regulator mechanism



Nov. 24, 1959 Filed Jan. 24, 1958 A. ARLAUSKAS wmnow REGULATOR MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1959 A. ARLAUSKAS 2,914,314

wmnow REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY a z I 7/- a KL if A Nov. 24, 1959 A. ARLAUSKAS 2,914,314

wmoow REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 & g/fmsw 92 222 A rrom'vsv Nov. 24, 1959 A. ARLAUSKAS 2,914,314

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

United States Patent WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Alfonsas Arlauskas, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1958, Serial No. 710,969

Claims. (Cl. 268-121) This invention relates to window regulator mechanisms and more particularly to ventilator window regulator mechanisms.

The ventilator window regulator mechanism of this invention is intended primarily for use with ventilator windows of the type which are swingable about a generally fixed pivotal axis for movement between open and closed positions. This type of ventilator window is often used in vehicle bodies, either as a rear quarter window or as a door ventipane window. In the past the regulator mechanisms have often been of the manually operable crank type which included a gear drive unit for moving the ventilator window between open and closed positions, with an independent latch device being provided to hold the window in closed position against forcible entry.

The regulator mechanism of this invention is of the push-pull type and is operative to move the ventilator window between open and closed positions with a minimum amount of effort being exerted by the operator. In addition, the mechanism is operative to hold the window in closed position against forcible movement thereof toward an open position without benefit of any independent latch device. It might be noted that a pushpull type of regulator mechanism is preferable over a crank arm type of mechanism in certain installations, since it is much easier for a person to operate the former than the latter. This is particularly true when the regulator mechanism is used for a door ventipane window since the driver or operator usually sits immediately adjacent the vehicle door so that there is very little room for arm movement.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle window regulator mechanism. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle window regulator mechanism of the push-pull type for moving a ventilator window between open and closed positions and requiring a minimum amount of effort to be exerted by the operator. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ventilator window regulator mechanism for moving a ventipane window between open and closed positions and holding the ventilator window in closed position against forcible movement without benefit of any independent latch device. These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of a vehicle body door having a swingable ventilator window and embodying a vehicle window regulator mechanism according to one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the ventilator window in open position and the position of the regulator mechanism when the window is in this position; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ICC Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane'indicated by line 55 of Figure 1; V

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 and showing another embodiment of this invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 77 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 through 5 of the drawings, one embodiment of a regulator mechanism according to this invention will be described. A vehicle body front door It includes an upper door frame portion 12 defining a window opening 14. The rear portion of this window opening is opened and closed by a vertically movable door window 16, and the forward portion of the window opening is opened and closed by a swingable ventilator window 18 which is movable between a closed position, as shown in Figure 1, and an open position, as shown in Figure 2, about a fixed substantially vertical pivotal axis defined by upper and lower pivot shafts, only the lower pivot shaft 20 being shown. From a comparison of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it can be seen that the forward portion of the ventilator window swings inboard of the body and the rearward portion swings outboard of the body as the window moves from a closed to an open position.

The lower portion of the door 10 includes a door outer panel, not shown, and a door inner panel 22 located in spaced relationship to each other and suitably secured to each other to define a Window well 24 which receives window 16 in open position. The door inner panel is provided with a trim panel 26 which is part of the interior body trim. A flanged offset regulator back plate 28 is located within the window well 24 by a number of angle brackets 31 which are riveted to the back plate and to the door inner panel 22. The back plate is provided with an opening 29 and a sector gear plate 30 secured to the back plate at 34 is provided with an opening 32 aligned with the opening 29 in the back plate. An offsetv bell crank lever 36 has one arm thereof pivoted to plate 30 and the back plate 23 at 38 and the other arm thereof mounting a fixed stud 40 which extends inboard of the body through an arcuate slot 42 in an escutcheon member 44 which fits within openings in the trim panel 26 and door inner panel 22 and is suitably secured therein. A manual operating handle 46 is suitably secured to the stud.

A headed pivot shaft 48 is journaled on the bell crank 36 by means of a bushing 50 located approximately at the joint between the angular arms of the bell crank. A pinion gear 52 journaled on shaft 48 within the openings 29 and 32 of the back plate and sector gear plate meshes with the sector gear teeth 56 of the gear plate 30, with a washer 54 being provided between the pinion gear and bell crank. An arm 58 is also journaled on shaft 48 and is welded at 60 to the pinion gear 52 whereby the arm and pinion gear rotate as a unit. The other end of the arm 58 fixedly mounts a headed stud 62 which is pivotally and slidably received within a slot 64 provided in one end of a lever 66. The lever 66 is pivotally secured to the gear plate 30 and back plate 28 at 68 and includes an integral sector gear 70.

A casting 72 is suitably secured to the door inner and outer panels and receives the lower pivot shaft 20 of the ventilator window 18. A flanged bracket 74 is bolted at 76 to the casting 72 and is welded or otherwise secured to the back plate 28 to additionally locate the back plate within the window well 24. A drive shaft 78 is journaled within inboard and outboard generally rectangularly shaped bearing blocks 80 and 82, respectively, which are bolted together and to the bracket 74 and back plate 28 at 84. The upper end of the drive shaft 78 includes an enlarged boss 86 provided with a slot 88 which receives the lower flattened end 90 of the pivot shaft 20, with the pivot shaft and boss being bolted together at 92. A portion of the bracket 74 is cut out at 94 in order to provide clearance for the boss and bolt. The lowerend of the drive shaft '78 includes an integral bevel gear: 96 which meshes with the sector gear 70- ofthe lever 66, with a clearance opening 97 being provided in plate 28. In order to provide a frictional brake on the drive shaft 78 during movement of the window and in any position thereof, a leaf spring-98 has one end 160 thereof bearing against a shoulder of the outboard bearing block 82 and the other end thereof. bolted at 102 to the same bearing block, with the spring engaging the drive shaft 78 intermediate the ends thereof.

The ventilator window is shown in closed position in Figure l and the-regulator mechanism is shown in position when the window is in this position. Assuming now that the driver or operator desires to move the ventilator window from its closed position of Figure 1 to its open position of Figure 2, he will grasp the knob 46 and move this knob to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, to swing the bell crank lever 36 clockwise about its pivot 380m the back plate and sector gear plate. As the bell crank swings in this direction, the pinion gear 52 will rotate due to its meshing with the sector gear teeth 56 of the gear plate and will control swinging movement of the arm 58 in a counterclockwise direction relative to the bell crank as the bell crank swings clockwise. As the arm 58 swings in this direction, it will rotate the lever 66 counterclockwise about its pivot 63 on the back plate and sector gear plate to'turn'the drive shaft 78 counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, and thereby move the ventilator window 18- to an open position.

If it is desired to move the ventilator windowlS from its open position of Figure 2 to its closed position of Figure 1, the reverse procedure takes place, with each of the members swinging in an opposite direction.

The pinion gear 52 and sector gear teeth 56 arrangement controls the swinging movement of the arm 58 about the bell crank during swinging movement of the bell crank and additionally swings the arm at a greater rate relative to the bell crank than if no such arrangement were provided. Since the bell crank 36- swings through a limited arc and the lever 66 must swing through a greater are in order to move the window between open and closed positions upon movement of the bell crank through its limited are, it is imperative that the swinging movement of the arm 58 relative to the bell crank be accurately controlled. Thus, even though the regulator mechanism would function if the pinion gear and sector gear arrangement were not used, the bell crank 36 would require a much greater are of swinging in order to insure that the ventilator window 18 could be moved between its open and closed positions, since the swinging movement of the arm 58 relative to the bell crank would not be controlled.

When the ventilator window is in closed position, as shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that the axes of the stud 62, pivot shaft 48 and pivot 38, are substantially aligned. Thus, if force should be applied to either the forward or rearward portions of the ventilator window 18 to try and force the ventilator window towards an open position, this would be effectively prevented by the alignment of the stud 62, the pivot shaft 48 and the pivot 38. In order for the window to move in this direction, the lever 66 must swing counterclockwise about its pivot 68 on the back plate, and the lever cannot swing in this directi'on when the pivotal connection between the lever and arm 58 is aligned with the pivot shaft 48 and stud38. Thus, the ventilator window regulator mechanism is operative to effectively hold the window in closed position against forcible movement thereof toward an open position without benefit of any independent latch devices.

In the usual vehicle body, the ventilator windows are sealed by compression type weather strips and a substantially large amount of force is required to move theventilator window from a substantially closed position to a fully closed position since the weather strips must be compressed. The torque required is usually in the order of 150 inch pounds. It is also well known that a toggle linkage exerts a substantial amount of separating or reaction force to the links thereofimmediately prior to the point atwhich the pivots of the links come into alignment.v Since. the arm of the bell crank lever. 36 between the pivots43xand 38functionsas one link of a toggle linkage, the other link thereof being provided. by, the arm 58, the alignment of the axis of the pivot shaft 48 with thoseof' the stud-62 and-pivot 38 provides-the separating or reaction force necessary to. easily move the ventilator window 18 from a substantially closed position to a fully closed position to compress the usual weather strips.

Referring now particularlytoFigures 6 through 8 of the drawings, another embodiment of a ventilator window regulator mechanism according to this invention will be described; Since most-of the members of this embodiment of'the invention are similar to those of the previously described embodiment, like numerals have been used for like parts-and only-the differences will be particularly described.- The mechanism of the second embodiment of the invention operates in substantially the same manner:

as that of the first embodiment of the invention, and therefore it is believed that no further description of the operationisnecessary.

One of'the primary difierencesis in the provision of a straight lever in' the second embodiment of the invention rather thana bell'crank lever 36 as in the first embodiment of the invention. However, the straight lever 110 operates in'the same manner as the bell crank lever'36, and that portion ofthe straightlever between the pivot shaft 48 and the pivot 38'of the lever on the back plate and gear sector plate functions as one link of a toggle linkage which-includes the arm 58. Another difference is in the manual operating means for the lever 110.- In the second embodiment of the invention the door inner panel 22 is provided with an outwardly chart-- embossed portion 128 thereof, with this slot receiving a guide pin130=securedto the lever 110 so as to guide swinging movement of the lever.

Thus, this invention provides a new and improved ventilator window regulator mechanism which is operative to-move a swingable ventilator window between open and closed positions-with a minimum amount of effort being exerted by the-operator, and in addition, which is operative to hold the window inclosed position against forcible movement thereof toward an open position without benefit of any independent latch device.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vehicle bodyhaving a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon, for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator mechanism comprising, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said body, a drive lever pivotally mountedon said body and operatively connected to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof, an arm pivotally secured to said operating lever and to said drive lever, a gear fixed to said arm for movement therewith, and a gear fixed to said body and meshing withsaid first-mentioned gear for swinging said arm upon swinging movement of said uperating lever, the pivots of said arm to said levers being substantially aligned with the pivot of said operating lever on said body in the closed position of said window, said drive lever being arranged to apply a force substantially longitudinal of said aligned pivots to prevent forcible movement of said Window when said window is in closed position and a force is applied to said window to move said window toward open position.

2. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator mechanism comprising, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said body, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said body, gear drive means operatively interconnecting said drive lever and said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof upon swinging movement of said drive lever, an arm pivotally secured to said operating lever, means pivotally and slidably securing said arm to said drive lever for swing said drive lever upon swinging movement of said operating lever, a gear fixed to said arm for rotational movement therewith about the pivot of said arm to said operating lever, and a gear fixed to said body and meshing with said first-mentioned gear to thereby rotate said first-mentioned gear and swing said arm at a controlled rate relative to said operating lever upon swinging mo ement thereof to thereby swing said drive lever, the pivots of said arm to said levers being substantially aligned with the pivot of said operating lever on said body in the closed position of said window, said drive lever being arranged to apply a force substantially longitudinal of said aligned pivots to prevent forcible movement of said window when said window is in closed position and a force is applied to said window to move said window toward open position.

3. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for movement between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator drive mechanism comprising, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said body, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said body and operatively connected to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof upon swinging movement of said drive lever, an arm pivotally secured to said operating lever and to said drive lever for swinging said drive lever upon swinging movement of said operating lever, and means for swinging said arm relative to said operating lever at a predetermined controlled rate upon swinging movement of said operating lever to locate said arm relative to said levers in the closed position of said window with the pivot of said arm to said drive lever in general alignment with the pivot of said arm to said operating lever and the pivot of said operating lever on said body, whereby a force applied to said window to move said window toward open position will tend to swing said drive lever about the pivot thereof on said body and apply a force substantially longitudinal of said generally aligned pivots to thereby prevent forcible movement of said window toward an open position.

4. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for movement between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator drive mechanism comprising, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said body, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said body and operatively connected to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof upon swinging movement of said drive lever, an arm pivotally secured to said operating lever and to said drive lever for swinging said drive lever upon swinging movement of said operating lever, and means for swinging said arm relative to said operating lever at a predetermined rate upon swinging movement of said operating lever for locating said arm in the closed position of said window with the pivot of said arm to said drive lever to one side of and in general alignment with the pivot of said arm to said operating lever and the pivot of said operating lever on said body, whereby a force applied to said window to move said window toward open position will tend to swing said drive lever about the pivot thereof on said body and apply a force substantially longitudinal of said generally aligned pivots to thereby prevent forcible movement of said window toward an open position.

5. In combination with a vehicle body having a ventilator window swingably mounted thereon for movement between open and closed positions, a ventilator window regulator drive mechanism comprising, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said body, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said body and operatively connected to said window for swinging said window between said positions thereof upon swinging movement of said drive lever, an arm pivotally secured to said operating lever and to said drive lever for swinging said drive lever upon swinging movement of said operating lever, and gear drive means for positively swinging said arm relative to said operating lever at a predetermined controlled rate upon swinging movement of said operating lever to locate said arm relative to said levers in the closed position of said window with the pivot of said arm to said drive lever to one side of and in general alignment with the pivot of said arm to said operating lever and the pivot of said operating lever on said body, whereby a force applied to said window to move said window toward open position will tend to swing said drive lever about the pivot thereof on said body and apply a force substantially longitudinal of said generally aligned pivots to thereby prevent forcible movement of said window toward an open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,570 Dennis Ian. 6, 1953 

